Eyeglasses … Seeing Your Best

If they are not an integral part of your everyday life now, they will become one as time goes on and you grow older.

As socially acceptable and understood as glasses are, some people surely experienced a degree of trauma when informed that their malfunctioning sight required they wear a pair. Young adults might have figured that eyeglasses were a one-way ticket to Nerd City.

Thankfully, that is all in the past. Expert opticians like Howard Buck at Orangeville Opticians, ensure eyeglasses serve their function, are comfortable and blend with their wearer’s features.

A qualified optician will ensure frames fit properly and not slip off the nose, or be too tight and press against the temples or the sides of the nose. More importantly, they will insert lenses into those frames that provide optimum visual value.

When they first appeared on the scene, eyeglasses were simply a tool to make up for a visual deficiency; much like a cane aided those with a mobility problem. While they are still vital to maintaining optimum optics, glasses have become a virtual appendage of those who wear them. They are part of their personality and a fashion statement.

Howard figures that women are, overall, more particular about the shape and design of frames. ‘Yet,” he reiterates, “the fussiest customers we ever had were men.”

Over the years, a list of dos and don’ts has come about when it comes to selecting glasses for your particular head shape; whether it be round, oval, square, diamond or heart-shaped.

A few examples include shunning rimless, round or small frames if you have a round face. They will make your face look even rounder. Instead, opt for square or rectangular frames that tend to be wider than a round face. They make it appear slimmer and longer, adding balance to round features.

If you possess one of those heart-shaped heads, eyeglasses with low-set temples and bottom heavy frame lines will add width to that narrower part of your face. On the other hand, steer clear of any style or colour of frames that draw attention to the forehead. This includes frames with decorative temples or embellished tops.

Such insights as to what glasses types are compatible to your features are among the many reasons it is favourable to visit an optician. Dealing with an expert not only provides a proper look, it also enables proper quality assurance.

Lately, people who need glasses have turned to online ordering, however, that can lead to ordering and returning several times before getting the right glasses for you. Not to mention if there is a problem with them, will they have a warranty, and so begins the returning and reordering all over again.

Howard uses a clothing metaphor to illustrate the risks. “You can buy a suit from renowned Toronto tailor, Harry Rosen or you can buy one off the rack at any chain store. They can look the same at first…But over time…”

Around the age of 40, the majority of folks experience some measure of presbyopia which is the loss of the ability to focus on close objects. This happens as the eye begins to age and can easily be corrected with reading glasses. You might already have an eyeglass prescription for distance vision and require a solution that enables you to see your best both near and far. Eye doctors and opticians collaborate to find the ideal bifocals, multifocals and progressive lenses.

Howard points out that with the progression of age, there will be the inevitable wear and tear on the various physical components of one’s vision. This is particularly noticeable when people are in their latter 50’s and older. “In their 60’s, cataracts can occur. There is also macular degeneration, which is basically where the retina starts to wear out.”

Essentially, there comes an age where regular eye doctor visits and upgrades from qualified experts like Orangeville Opticians are not just options, but must be seriously considered. They are pretty well mandatory. It is recommended that examinations take place at least once every two years for those between the ages of 18 and 60 and annual exams for those who are older.

Whether they are for a child’s first pair, a second pair of designer frames or a senior with a complicated prescription, you should always consult with your optician for a new pair of glasses. Ultimately, your eyeglasses have a job and that is to help you to see your best to get the most out of every day.